Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My science fair topic is mathematical sequences found in music. I used a frequency chart from the website www.techlib.com and wrote down the frequencies for the notes in the first eight measures of three different selections of music (one classical, one rock, and one Irish). I tried to analyze the data I collected and couldn't find any mathematical sequences whatsoever. But, I'm pretty sure there's supposed to be mathematical sequences and I think I'm just analyzing the data wrong. Is there an easier form of measurement to figure out mathematical sequences found in music?

Hi,

You might want to look into elementary music theory. Here is a web page to get you started(read all rhe way down to the bottom!!):

http://www.vibrationdata.com/piano.htm

You may also want to read this Science Buddies project idea and the links in the bibliography section:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p006.shtml

Science Buddies has a lot of music related projects - some are summarized here:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... -05_PI.pdf

Or look at the Project Wizard on music:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... p?ia=Music

Here are some web pzges on chords and progressions frequently used in music:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chord_progression

http://www.8notes.com/school/theory/com ... ssions.asp

http://www.free-online-piano-lessons.co ... sions.html

http://www.outsideshore.com/school/musi ... ssions.htm

If you read and play around with these resources I think you will discover the answer to your question.

Good luck and have fun!!!

Best regards,

Barrett L Tomlinson